**The Job** The **Store Planner** is responsible for taking the capital project from inception to execution for each individual store. This will be accomplished through a series of virtual meetings with the core planning team (the Retailer, District Manager and Project Manager). The Store Planner will schedule, coordinate and lead all planning meetings and will execute changes and updates in real-time. The Store Planner will combine their data-driven analytics, Ace best practices, experience and knowledge with the overall goals and desires of the Retailer to provide the most productive retailer store plan. Improving the store model is pillar of Ace’s long-term retail strategy and developing the most productive and consumer-centric store layouts for our retailers is a key element of this pillar. + **Scope** : The Store Planner owns the planning process from start to finish for all new stores, remodels and conversions. The Store Planner must execute every plan for each store, using AutoCAD for Fixture, Lighting, Electrical and Data, Décor, and Location Code Plans. + **Leadership/Mentorship:** Educating their core team members on process improvements, changes and other updates from merchandising, space planning or store planning. In the even there is a new investor to Ace, the Store Planner must lead them through the first steps in their journey to becoming an Ace retailer. **What you’ll do:** + Utilize AutoCAD software to revise fixture and merchandise plans in real-time live meetings with the core planning team (retailer, district manager and project manager). The ability to lead these meetings while working through plans in real time is critically important to the Store Planner’s success. + Schedule, coordinate and lead all planning meetings and will execute changes and updates in real-time. The Store Planner will combine their data-driven analytics, Ace best practices, experience and knowledge with the overall goals and desires of the Retailer to provide the most productive retailer store plan. + Advise on Ace best practices, adjacencies and analytics in creating the best layout. Combine the retailer’s objectives with these best practices, all while accounting for deviations in building size, layout, custom shopping patterns, regionality and other key components to create the most productive layout for the retailer and the customer. Maintain compliance along with local/municipality code compliance. + Complete an average of approximately 4 plans per month. During any given week, the Store Planner is working with multiple different stores, retailers, and project managers. They must be equipped to start/stop one project in the fixture stage to prepare another in the merchandising phase for live meetings. The Store Planner must have the ability to be organized, meticulously re-cap meetings and able to present to a diverse core group, all with differing priorities and goals. The Store Planner must sell the group on why the Ace best practices and data-driven analytics can help them achieve the most productive store. + Maintain and update fixture blocks in AutoCAD and merchandising templates in JDA for multiple store formats. Ensure reporting from AutoCAD and JDA is accurate by partnering with Space Planning team and Project Support team. Identify anomalies, reporting errors and actively work to find solutions. + Take leadership role in collaboration with multiple departments (e.g. Category Management, Visual Merchandising, Space Planning, Field Operations and Merchandising) ensure that programs that are new or involving footage changes and/or fixture changes or are “retail ready,” aligned with overall best practices and communicated fully to field team. + Understanding of market impacts for supply and demand and how that impacts project timing, planning, and ordering. The Store Planner must have familiarity with gondola shelving and necessary components to understand and create effective fixture plans. The Store Planner must also be ready to adjust the timing and process of planning to overcome obstacles with lead times for fixtures to due to such market impacts. The Store Planner must also be able to help provide a take-off order for fixture parts and components in a remodel. + Consistently execute store planning/design and merchandising principles, namely department and category placement, aisle leadoffs, and adjacencies to drive retail performance. Maintain planogram knowledge and proficiency and understand specialty racks, height discrepancies. Understand which planograms can work with different size base decks or fixture heights to plan the store appropriately. + Proactively monitor category KPI’s to track performance of completed remodels, track trends and identify opportunities make changes to adjacencies, space recommendations and category placement. Independently act on results and influence cross-functional and interdepartmental teams with recommendations. **Lead and partner with multiple different business partners throughout the process.** + Core planning team (project manager, district manager and Retailer) + Project Support team. Reporting out correctly to order consolidated fixtures, décor, shelf management and merchandise. + Category Management team. The Store Planner works closely with the Category Management team in identifying opportunities to update planograms and categories throughout the store. The Store Planner’s proximity to the Retailer assists the Category Management team in making decisions that align with what Retailers are asking for or already doing. + Space Planning team. The Store Planner works with Space Planning for planogram updates and changes and teaches the changes to the core planning team. **What you will need:** **Experience and Technical Requirements:** + Bachelor’s Degree + Minimum of 5 years of experience in architectural design and retail planning + Fluent in English and Spanish + Proficient in AutoCAD, Autodesk and Adobe Photoshop. + (Experience in JDA Floor Planning, JDA CKB software and Smartsheet a plus) + Demonstrated understanding of interior retail/fixture design, electrical & lighting configuration, ADA requirements, building codes, & exterior design + Demonstrated understanding of retail industry trends, consumer purchase behavior, and basic merchandising techniques + Desire to lead and progress a team to drive efficiency and minimize lead time in projects + Ability to connect cross-functionally and influence others, including outside consultants + Strong written/verbal communication skills with an aptitude for influencing and selling + Strong analytical skills and proficient in data mining, manipulation, and analysis + Proficient in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Power Point) **Want to be notified when new jobs are posted? Follow the link below to create an account and set up custom job alerts:** **Create Job Alert (https://acehardware.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/AIH\_External/jobAlerts)** Ace Hardware is the largest retailer-owned hardware cooperative in the world with over 5,800 locally owned and operated hardware stores in approximately 60 countries. Headquartered in Oak Brook, Ill., Ace and its subsidiaries operate an expansive network of distribution centers in the U.S. and have distribution capabilities in Ningbo, China; and Cuautitlán Izcalli, Mexico. Since 1924, Ace has become a part of local communities around the world and known as the place with the helpful hardware folks. For more information, visit acehardware.com or newsroom.acehardware.com.